(millions of used books worldwide)
Consider purchasing used textbooks instead of buying new ones. Used textbooks are often significantly cheaper than new ones and depending on their classified ‘condition’ or ‘grade’, the difference in condition can be very small.
Read more here about the condition classification system of the book sellers included in our search.
Blackwell’s is a well-established academic bookseller in the UK. They offer both new and used textbooks for purchase, but they also provide a rental service. You can search for textbooks on their website and check if rental options are available.
Additionally, there are dedicated textbook rental sites, such as VintalSource, that you may want to take a look at: https://www.vitalsource.com/en-uk/
Connect with students who have taken the same course in previous semesters or academic years. They may be willing to sell their used textbooks at a lower price.
Have a look on student forums, bulletin boards, or social media groups. Or, if your university doesn’t yet have a formal process set up for the buying and selling of text books, then you could suggest that your course leader or lecturer sets something up.
International editions of textbooks, which are often sold at lower prices, may provide a viable alternative.
These editions are usually identical in content to their domestic counterparts, but they may have different covers, be printed in paperback, or have slightly altered examples or exercises.
OER are freely available educational materials, including textbooks, lecture notes, and multimedia resources. Search for OER repositories or platforms that provide textbooks relevant to your subject.
These resources can be an excellent cost-saving alternative, although availability may vary depending on your specific course requirements.
They are also only suited for digital learning, which doesn’t always suit everybody. Sometimes it is much more preferable to have a physical textbook rather than digital material.
Reading every single word of a textbook, is not an efficient use of time. You will benefit far more, if you read the content that is most relevant to you, from a handful of textbooks, rather than everything from one book.
Furthermore, if you start reading every single word of a thick textbook, straight away, then you are likely to get bored halfway through and give up!
Before diving into the details, skim through the textbook to get a better overview of what it contains – look at the main chapter headings, subheadings and any highlighted or emboldened text. Once you have a better understanding of the structure and main ideas presented in the book, you can then start to delve into the parts that are most relevant to your learning.
Typically, people underline or highlight key points as a method for better engaging with textbook content. However, going one step further and writing points in your own words in the margin of the book, or writing down questions/challenges to what you have read, is an even more effective way of absorbing what you are reading.
Try writing a bullet point list of the most important parts of the most relevant sections.
Most people studying, using a textbook will take notes. But have you tried drawing or doodling some of the key points?
The process of switching between your textual and visual side of your brain is a far superior method for reinforcing your understanding – plus, it’s a lot more fun!
After reading a textbook or your notes on a textbook, try watching a YouTube video or reading a blog post on the same topic.
The information is much more likely to be remembered if you are exposed to the same points in a completely different format and/or style.
